We have something this year that we have been striving for for years. A beautiful lawn! No thanks to anything that we did though, all the credit goes to Gregg. We always maintained the lawn, we fertilized in the spring and fall and put out grass seed each year and Doc mowed regularly. I sat on a little box year after year and dug out the dandelions, knowing full well that dandelions are like sins, you can spend your whole life trying to get rid of them but when you die they are still there. After a few bouts with the sewers and the MSD the yard was nothing more than a patch of weeds with a little grass on it. Doc became unable to take care of it so Gregg took over. He fertilized, planted grass seed and used weed killer and worked a miracle. The lawn is beautiful. In order for it to stay beautiful it needs water and we have had draught and near draught conditions for the last two or three years. Gregg didn't want all of his hard work to be in vain so he installed a sprinkler. It is really neat. It is in the front bushes and it ossilates to be able to sprinkle the whole front lawn. The faucet is right outside the front door and so I can step over and stoop over when I go out to get the paper in the morning and turn it on and the automatic timer turns it off. No brainer for me.
We haven't had rain for two days or so and I stooped down to turn it on yesterday morning. Wow!I was hit by a full force blast of water. It was so powerful that I couldn't even reach over to turn it off because it was in my face and eyes and every place else. I ran around to the car and got my umbrella out and came back with it to protect my face and eyes from the blast and still had to struggle to get it off. I wonder what the people in the cars thought if they looked over and saw me. What a great home vidio it would have made. I was soaked clear through to the skin. My hair and face and clothes were dripping water. Fergus was watching me out the storm door which was getting pounded with water too. Water has a way of triggering bodily function urges and I didn't want to run through the living room in my watery state so I ran to the back door which I found was locked! I wish I had the ability to shake off the water like Fergus would have done but I am not so blessed. I had to go back through the living room after all and head for the bathroom. Not a dry spot on me. It was a very funny scene. I only wish someone could have seen it and joined me in my laughter. Apparently some one had bumped the devise and turned it the wrong way. I haven't tried to fix it yet. I'm not sure that I can and I would be afraid to turn it on to test it and run the risk of another dousing. We'll see. Thankfully it has rained off and on ever since so I haven't needed the water for the lawn. Keep the umbrella handy is my motto!Ciao
Friday, July 27, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Song in my Head 2
I realize that the following post doesn't make much sense if you did not read the beginning of the blog. To do that you have to scroll down to the bottom and then click on the " older posts" thing down in the right hand corner of the blog. The blog dated June 5 has the first part of the "Cherry" story.
Song in my Head 2
We all went up to our room and I told Michele that this would be a good time to teach her some of the songs she could sing to her children. Linda washed all the cherries and washed the ash treys in the room and divvied up the cherries. Linda and I propped ourselves up on the bed and the other two took the chairs. We went through my whole repertoir of songs, ate cherries and laughed and laughed. It was so much fun. They had very little air conditioning in Athens and we had the windows open and could hear the traffic noise and the sounds of the city. There were still a lot of people on the streets.
We sang "I had a little chicken", "A penny a kiss,"" If I had a nickle" " (Kid name) is a friend of mine, he/she will kiss me anytime", "Once upon a time a goose drank wine"."Go to sleepy little baby.." " I went to Cincinnati and walked around the block..." We sang and sang and sang. Eating cherries during the whole concert. We finally switched to camp songs, "The prettiest girl I ever saw was sippin' cider through a straw.." "The Great ship Titanic.." and Linda's all time favorite "Catalina Madalina,Hoopa Stanna, Wanna Monna..." It grew later and later and we had a big day planned for the morrow and besides we were out of cherries so we wrapped it up. Our guests went off to their rooms and we went to bed. I went back to bed about eight times during the night. Did the five second rule fail me or did the two or three ashtreys of cherries do a number on me? I'll never know. I still like cherries and I still remember the fun we had that night.
We sang "I had a little chicken", "A penny a kiss,"" If I had a nickle" " (Kid name) is a friend of mine, he/she will kiss me anytime", "Once upon a time a goose drank wine"."Go to sleepy little baby.." " I went to Cincinnati and walked around the block..." We sang and sang and sang. Eating cherries during the whole concert. We finally switched to camp songs, "The prettiest girl I ever saw was sippin' cider through a straw.." "The Great ship Titanic.." and Linda's all time favorite "Catalina Madalina,Hoopa Stanna, Wanna Monna..." It grew later and later and we had a big day planned for the morrow and besides we were out of cherries so we wrapped it up. Our guests went off to their rooms and we went to bed. I went back to bed about eight times during the night. Did the five second rule fail me or did the two or three ashtreys of cherries do a number on me? I'll never know. I still like cherries and I still remember the fun we had that night.
Friday, July 20, 2007
To Err is Human
A few days ago I wrote a long article entitled "There's a Song in My Head" I started it one evening and finished it the next evening. I've spent untold hours since then trying to find the second half. I finally decided to go ahead and post the first half of the blog. I did and then couldn't find it despite the fact that it said I had successfully published my blog. I scrolled back through the archives and found it waaaaaay back there. Now, I'm sure that there are numerous people out there that could move it up to the spot that I intended it to be in, probably many of them just 12 or 13 years old, or younger but try as I might, I cannot figure out how to do it. I am easily defeated by technology. About ten or fifteen years ago, Karen and I took a class at Spaulding on teaching computer skills. We both got A's as I recall. We, of course were learning on Macs but I had a PC at home. Since that time I use Macs at school and my PC at home. One would think that I would be a whizz but guess what?... I am not going to give up entirely on finding my saved piece that I did.But I have a migrain headache and I am giving up for this evening. One day soon, if I don't find it, I'll start over!Ciao,ciao
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Life in the Slow Lane
I spend a few hours or so every day at the Klondike Manor Nursing Home, which is officially not called a nursing home, it is a Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Facility. There are about sixty-two "residents". Doc is one of the "residents". It is a varied group of people and since I'm there for a portion of each day, I have gotten to become familiar with a number of them.
The facility itself is very neat, clean, and attractively decorated. Jane went with me to check it out before we settled on the place to move Doc to after his second stroke. His right side was paralyzed and he could get physical therapy there. Jane and I both were impressed by the fact that the place had a very nice odor. Most "homes " that we had been to had the unpleasant odor of,well,nursing homes!
It took Doc awhile to settle into the place. He's used to being in charge and having his demands met 'STAT'. It didn't happen that way and he was not too pleased and was inclined to let them know in no uncertain terms. While his speech was affected by the stroke as to the spoken word but not the volume, he did a lot of yelling. I've been told a number of times that they are used to obstreperous people there and he did not get any votes for being the worst, matter of fact he wasn't even in the running.He adapted to them and they adapted to him.
He is not a very social person so he did not even attempt to make friends. He won't eat in the dining room because they play music, 40's music, and he says he can't hear people talk with the music playing. He does enjoy going out into the patio/garden. It is beautiful. Lots of flowers, trees, bushes and birds. They have a fish pond with water lillies and huge gold fish. There are bird feeders hanging in the trees and bird nests in every available place that the birds choose to set up house keeping. There is a robin's nest on the drain pipe outside his window, a dove's nest on the drain pipe near the entrance of the building,more robins, wrens and others around the garden area. The mallards have a nest there near the fishpond and the squirrels and chipmonks abound. One day a deer came into the grassy area right outside his window. He is very contented to watch the activity of the wild life and enjoys the flora and fauna.
I have struck up a friendship with many of the residents. There is a man there that has a nervous laugh. He is very friendly and kind. He is about 88yrs old and he also served in WW 2 just as Doc did. He reminisces about his days as a dancer. He was a dance instructor and danced at Fountain Ferry Park in the old days. He married one of his dance partners but it didn't work out and he married another girl. They had triplets. Two identical girls and a boy. When I asked why he was there at Klondike he said, "Because my wife put me here!" Ha,ha,ha. He told Doc she put him there because he hit her and knocked her down. Ha,ha,ha.Actually he is a very kind good hearted man. He frequently says, I love you and always says God Bless you when you leave. Ha ha!
Arlene is a very ill patient. she suffers great pain most of the time but she can forget it for awhile if she can wheel herself into the patio and talk with us for a few moments. She spent her life working for the govertnment, the IRS, to be exact. She has a condo that she was living in but has had to put it up for sale in order to pay her fees at Klondike. Her daughter just graduated from Spaulding with another degree, summa cum laude and has emmediately registered for further studies. She is about 35 years old and up to this point her mom has financed her. Arlene said she hated to tell her that she was on her own now because she needs her money to pay her bills. Her drug bills alone cost $1500.oo a month. She says it costs her about $5000. a month to reside at KM.She is taken by ambulance every Mon. Wed. and Fri to Suburban for Kidney Dialysis. When I stop at McDonalds or Wendy's for a milk shake for Doc now and then, I always bring her one too. Her 98 year old mother comes to visit despite the fact that Arlene begs her not to come because she drives herself!
Ruth was brought here from Cleveland by her son because he wanted her near his home. She is not used to this heat and humidity but she likes it. She is very sharp and can converse about a variety of subjects. Even though it is ninety degrees, she still brings her sweater with her when she comes to the patio. She is baffled by the fact that she is still alive. She questions the reasoning of God that He lets her keep on living. She says she has no purpose in life and sees herself as a semi-burdon for her son. She had emergency surgery in April and had to have a colostomy. She can't figure out why. She's 93 years old. Waiting for God!
I am quite surprised to know how many people are here that we know. One of the people lived down the street from us for the last 40 years or so. She was a well known figure in the neighborhood because of her profession. Her husband owned a girly bar down on Third St. and in her hey day she was a stripper. The aides have viewed her scrap book and heard some of her expertiences. She rolls into Doc's room occasionally and he yells at her to 'Get Out!' She is always looking for ways to get out of the 'home' and asks people to help her escape. She seems lonely to me but is not too aware of her plight.
I love most of the aids and nurses on the staff. They are or can be quite funny. They are loud and raucus at times but their job is very difficult. They have to take a lot of guff and deal with a lot of complaints. They have to take their lunch breaks and cigaret breaks out in the patio and their conversations are sometimes a riot. They argue over who has the least stretch marks, who has the laziest husband, who is the best cook, unlimited subjects to discuss. I would love to record some of them because they are so funny. They are quite taken with my shoes and check each day to see which ones I am wearing. I explained to them that I have to make up for the lack of shoes I had growing up during the depression when I had to cut out news paper liners for my shoes to cover the holes in the soles. I avoided walking on the cement that way. They were amused! It's true, ladies! They are the unsung heros of the decrepid members of society! More later.(ha,ha,ha)
The facility itself is very neat, clean, and attractively decorated. Jane went with me to check it out before we settled on the place to move Doc to after his second stroke. His right side was paralyzed and he could get physical therapy there. Jane and I both were impressed by the fact that the place had a very nice odor. Most "homes " that we had been to had the unpleasant odor of,well,nursing homes!
It took Doc awhile to settle into the place. He's used to being in charge and having his demands met 'STAT'. It didn't happen that way and he was not too pleased and was inclined to let them know in no uncertain terms. While his speech was affected by the stroke as to the spoken word but not the volume, he did a lot of yelling. I've been told a number of times that they are used to obstreperous people there and he did not get any votes for being the worst, matter of fact he wasn't even in the running.He adapted to them and they adapted to him.
He is not a very social person so he did not even attempt to make friends. He won't eat in the dining room because they play music, 40's music, and he says he can't hear people talk with the music playing. He does enjoy going out into the patio/garden. It is beautiful. Lots of flowers, trees, bushes and birds. They have a fish pond with water lillies and huge gold fish. There are bird feeders hanging in the trees and bird nests in every available place that the birds choose to set up house keeping. There is a robin's nest on the drain pipe outside his window, a dove's nest on the drain pipe near the entrance of the building,more robins, wrens and others around the garden area. The mallards have a nest there near the fishpond and the squirrels and chipmonks abound. One day a deer came into the grassy area right outside his window. He is very contented to watch the activity of the wild life and enjoys the flora and fauna.
I have struck up a friendship with many of the residents. There is a man there that has a nervous laugh. He is very friendly and kind. He is about 88yrs old and he also served in WW 2 just as Doc did. He reminisces about his days as a dancer. He was a dance instructor and danced at Fountain Ferry Park in the old days. He married one of his dance partners but it didn't work out and he married another girl. They had triplets. Two identical girls and a boy. When I asked why he was there at Klondike he said, "Because my wife put me here!" Ha,ha,ha. He told Doc she put him there because he hit her and knocked her down. Ha,ha,ha.Actually he is a very kind good hearted man. He frequently says, I love you and always says God Bless you when you leave. Ha ha!
Arlene is a very ill patient. she suffers great pain most of the time but she can forget it for awhile if she can wheel herself into the patio and talk with us for a few moments. She spent her life working for the govertnment, the IRS, to be exact. She has a condo that she was living in but has had to put it up for sale in order to pay her fees at Klondike. Her daughter just graduated from Spaulding with another degree, summa cum laude and has emmediately registered for further studies. She is about 35 years old and up to this point her mom has financed her. Arlene said she hated to tell her that she was on her own now because she needs her money to pay her bills. Her drug bills alone cost $1500.oo a month. She says it costs her about $5000. a month to reside at KM.She is taken by ambulance every Mon. Wed. and Fri to Suburban for Kidney Dialysis. When I stop at McDonalds or Wendy's for a milk shake for Doc now and then, I always bring her one too. Her 98 year old mother comes to visit despite the fact that Arlene begs her not to come because she drives herself!
Ruth was brought here from Cleveland by her son because he wanted her near his home. She is not used to this heat and humidity but she likes it. She is very sharp and can converse about a variety of subjects. Even though it is ninety degrees, she still brings her sweater with her when she comes to the patio. She is baffled by the fact that she is still alive. She questions the reasoning of God that He lets her keep on living. She says she has no purpose in life and sees herself as a semi-burdon for her son. She had emergency surgery in April and had to have a colostomy. She can't figure out why. She's 93 years old. Waiting for God!
I am quite surprised to know how many people are here that we know. One of the people lived down the street from us for the last 40 years or so. She was a well known figure in the neighborhood because of her profession. Her husband owned a girly bar down on Third St. and in her hey day she was a stripper. The aides have viewed her scrap book and heard some of her expertiences. She rolls into Doc's room occasionally and he yells at her to 'Get Out!' She is always looking for ways to get out of the 'home' and asks people to help her escape. She seems lonely to me but is not too aware of her plight.
I love most of the aids and nurses on the staff. They are or can be quite funny. They are loud and raucus at times but their job is very difficult. They have to take a lot of guff and deal with a lot of complaints. They have to take their lunch breaks and cigaret breaks out in the patio and their conversations are sometimes a riot. They argue over who has the least stretch marks, who has the laziest husband, who is the best cook, unlimited subjects to discuss. I would love to record some of them because they are so funny. They are quite taken with my shoes and check each day to see which ones I am wearing. I explained to them that I have to make up for the lack of shoes I had growing up during the depression when I had to cut out news paper liners for my shoes to cover the holes in the soles. I avoided walking on the cement that way. They were amused! It's true, ladies! They are the unsung heros of the decrepid members of society! More later.(ha,ha,ha)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Miracles do happen
I went to the hospital to see Jane today and what a happy day! Andrea was there doing her nails, giving her a pedicure and washing her hair. She, for the first time smiled, even laughed once, and mouthed the words "No and Yes" and before I left I told her goodbye and said something to her and she responded by mouthing the words, "I will".
Tomorrow they may move her to an acute rehab place at Jewish Hospital. She will be getting speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. You should see her, she looks great! Keep the prayers going!
Tomorrow they may move her to an acute rehab place at Jewish Hospital. She will be getting speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. You should see her, she looks great! Keep the prayers going!
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